Greenwich Village

It was the birthplace of the Beat Movement in the 1960s, and was home to a great number of counterculture artists, writers and musicians.

Begin your stay in the Big Apple in the city’s most atmospheric (and confusing) neighborhood: Greenwich Village. Already an existing village in the early 19th century when the streets of Manhattan were put into a grid system, Greenwich Village’s street plan remained charmingly crooked and diagonal. So don’t be surprised to find yourself lost, along with a lot of map-wielding out-of-towners. The neighborhood has seen an urban rebirth as one of the most expensive real estate markets in the country. However, it has maintained some of its "rebel" charm with its beautifully preserved historic buildings, art galleries and sidewalk cafes.

The neighborhood stretches north to south from Houston to 14th Streets and east to west from Broadway to the Hudson River (though über-technical geographers will tell you that Greenwich Village is between Broadway and Sixth Avenue, while the West Village is from Sixth Avenue to the Hudson), but the best way to see it is to stroll down Bleecker Street, which is becoming increasingly posh. When you're hungry, good food isn't all that far away. Morandi offers Italian-inspired start-of-the-day meals in a rustic environment (or, in warm weather, on the sidewalk). Make sure to try Joseph Leonard, or its sister restaurant across Sheridan Square, Jeffrey's Grocery. Both serve up hearty well-executed American fare in a casual, rustic setting. Or for something a bit spicier, try Ofrenda, located on Seventh Avenue between West 10th and Bleecker Streets; the smoky margaritas go down nicely with their flavorful Mexican dishes.